Chandigarh: The residence of Pehlu Khan’s village in Nuh district of Haryana are in deep shock and intimidated by his brutal killing by gau rakshaks in the Alwar area of Rajasthan last week. His barbaric death made headlines throughout the country but his family is still come to terms as to why Pehlu Khan was mercilessly killed that too without any fault from his side.

As reported by the media commuting between Haryana, Rajasthan and adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh is part of daily schedule for these dairy farmers to buy and sell cows and buffaloes. But from now on for these farmers, mostly poor, things have changed in the last six days after Pehlu Khan was brutally lynched on a inter-state highway.

Pehlu Khan’s son, Irshad Khan is unable to comprehend why all this happened to them.

Victim Pehlu Khan being lynched by a Gau rakshak dal. (A video Grab)

“We were in the pick-up jeeps when we were stopped by them (cow vigilantes). We had all the relevant papers to show that we were carrying the cows for dairy farming and that we had purchased them from the Jaipur cow fair. No one listened to us. They attacked us mercilessly, tore our documents and targeted my father, me and others,” a quote from the statement given by Irshad Khan to an English vernacular.

“They targeted us for being Muslims. Our father was beaten to death in front of our eyes. We had done nothing wrong. The cows were being brought for dairy farming. Our father wanted to have more milk production during the Ramzan month,” Irshad Khan adds to his statement.

While Pehlu Khan succumbed to his injuries, others were seriously injured in the unprovoked attack.

Pehlu Khan is survived by his wife and eight children, the youngest ones aged seven and five.

Not many in the village, with a population of less than 5,000, or nearby areas are even thinking of buying any cows in the future for dairy farming, said media sources.

Whilst interacting with the media on the condition of anonymity a neighbour of Pehlu Khan said “No one from the village will risk buying cows now. When the government and police are unable to protect you, there is no hope. Pehlu Khan was killed for no fault.”